Impact of engineering renovation on dynamic health risk assessment of mercury in a thermometer enterprise

The occupational health risk assessments (OHRA) of inorganic mercury (Hg) are rarely reported. We conducted an internal and external exposure monitoring of employees in a thermometer enterprise which experienced the renovation of occupational health engineering, followed by an evaluation on the health risks of Hg exposure with four OHRA methods in order to find out a most suitable model. The results showed that the concentrations of airborne and urinary Hg in all testing positions and subjects obviously decreased after the engineering renovation, meeting the occupational exposure limits (OELs) of China. Subsequently, four OHRA models, namely the models from US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Manpower (MOM), International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), and Classification of occupational hazards at workplaces Part 2: Occupational exposure to chemicals (GBZ/T 229.2-2010) were applied in the qualitative risk assessment. And the evaluation results of different methods were standardized by risk ratio (RR), which indicated MOM, ICMM risk rating, and GBZ/T 229.2 models were consistent with the order of inherent risk levels in those working processes. The order of RR between four models was: RREPA > RRICMM > RRMOM> RRGBZ/T229.2 (P < 0.05). Based on the strict limits of Hg, GBZ/T 229.2, and MOM methods may have more potentials in practical application. Though the working environment has been significantly improved via engineering renovation, it is strongly suggested that the thermometer company conduct more effective risk management covering all production processes to minimize Hg exposure levels and health risk ratings.